Spring Break
It's the institute, stupid
George Henson, ghenson@smu.edu
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Opinion
Some have even resorted to the desperate claim that anyone who continues to express concern or offer opposition "seeks to circumvent the duly constituted authority of the Faculty Senate."
What's next? Accusations of unpatriotism? Of aiding and abetting terrorists?
I realize that more than a few professors in some departments are as giddy as schoolgirls about the prospect of some Republican history makers in residence at SMU.
I'm quite sure that at night some even dream of discussing Soviet-era diplomacy or listening to stories about the good old days at the Hoover Institute with Condie over coffee and doughnuts or hashing out the nuts and bolts of Mideast power-brokering with James Baker at brownbag lunches.
Perhaps by the time the institute is built, Condie's dream of "work[ing] with our many partners around the world ... [and] build[ing] and sustain[ing] democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system" will have become a reality.
Some no doubt think that having Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld speak to classes is a good idea. I know I would go to any length to secure a front-row seat to hear Paul Wolfowitz justify his failed pre-war assessments (just don't ask him to take off his shoes) or listen to Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass argue that the administration's primary mistake was planning for the wrong peace rather than the wrong war.
Indeed, our students could learn so much from anyone in the Bush cabal who has had a direct hand in formulating the myriad of failed policies that constitute the worst presidency in history.
I bet there'll even be a position for Mary Cheney as the senior fellow for Gay and Lesbian Studies. I can't wait to read her first white paper: "Acquiescing to Homophobia for the Good of the Party."
Alberto Gonzalez, of course, would be senior fellow for Constitutional Law. His white paper, "How to Interpret the Constitution to Justify Whatever the Boss Wants to Do," would be instructive for law students.
What's next? Accusations of unpatriotism? Of aiding and abetting terrorists?
I realize that more than a few professors in some departments are as giddy as schoolgirls about the prospect of some Republican history makers in residence at SMU.
I'm quite sure that at night some even dream of discussing Soviet-era diplomacy or listening to stories about the good old days at the Hoover Institute with Condie over coffee and doughnuts or hashing out the nuts and bolts of Mideast power-brokering with James Baker at brownbag lunches.
Perhaps by the time the institute is built, Condie's dream of "work[ing] with our many partners around the world ... [and] build[ing] and sustain[ing] democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system" will have become a reality.
Some no doubt think that having Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld speak to classes is a good idea. I know I would go to any length to secure a front-row seat to hear Paul Wolfowitz justify his failed pre-war assessments (just don't ask him to take off his shoes) or listen to Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass argue that the administration's primary mistake was planning for the wrong peace rather than the wrong war.
Indeed, our students could learn so much from anyone in the Bush cabal who has had a direct hand in formulating the myriad of failed policies that constitute the worst presidency in history.
I bet there'll even be a position for Mary Cheney as the senior fellow for Gay and Lesbian Studies. I can't wait to read her first white paper: "Acquiescing to Homophobia for the Good of the Party."
Alberto Gonzalez, of course, would be senior fellow for Constitutional Law. His white paper, "How to Interpret the Constitution to Justify Whatever the Boss Wants to Do," would be instructive for law students.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Karn Dhingra
posted 3/28/07 @ 11:56 AM EST
I always enjoy forwarding your commentaries on the Bush presidency to my fellow Mustangs in DC.
Karn Dhingra '03
Scott Rewak
posted 3/28/07 @ 12:47 PM EST
Brilliantly stated, Professor. Sure does make you feel good knowing this group will be in position to influence a new generation of their ilk, right here on our campus? Sickening. (Continued…)
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